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Sunday, May 21, 2023
Weekend: I've been driving for an hour
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— How researchers described the results of a digital imaging project that mapped the Titanic in unprecedented detail. Buoy, technology these days.
Eyes On
The G7
The Story
The Group of Seven (aka, the G7) just wrapped their annual chit-chat.
Remind me.
Every year, leaders from seven of the world's most powerful democratic countries (including France, Germany, Italy, the UK, Canada, Japan, and the US) reunite to talk about shared values and attempt to tackle the world's problems. This year, leaders of some international organizations (think: the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund) and other nations (think: India, Indonesia, South Korea) joined the squad in Hiroshima for some of the convos. As did Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
So Russia was on the agenda?
You bet. But that's just one of many topics that came up. Here's the TLDR…
Russia's war on Ukraine. After a last-minute change of plans,President Zelenskyy appeared in person at the G7 summit on Saturday. His main goal: rallying more international support against Russia. To that end, the G7 doubled down on their "unwavering support" of Ukraine and unveiled a wave of tough new sanctions meant to crack down on those working with Russia — and make it harder for Russia to fund the war. The group also called on China to urge Russia to withdraw troops in Ukraine. Plus, President Biden told his counterparts that the US would support a joint effort to train Ukrainian pilots on advanced fighter aircrafts, including F-16s. President Zelenskyy called the move "historic," while Russia said it'd be a "colossal risk" for Western countries.
Tensions with China. Surprise, surprise, the G7's relationship with China is complicated. Case in point: China's increasing aggression toward Taiwan. And its economic retaliation against countries that aren't serving its political interests. The G7 expressed "serious concern" over Beijing's expanded military presence in the East and South China Seas. And it called for a "peaceful resolution" to territorial disputes over Taiwan. The group also said it was taking stock of other trade options — with the goal of "de-risking, not de-coupling" economic ties with China. And it agreed on an initiative that would increase their ability to detect and respond to "economic coercion." China, meanwhile, claimed these moves are "hindering international peace."
Nuclear weapons. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida hosted the group in Hiroshima. No, not as an excuse for a little hometown date. But as a powerful nod to the risks of nuclear war (reminder: much of the city was obliterated by a US-dropped atomic bomb during World War II). With that backdrop, G7 leaders committed to focusing on nuclear disarmament — a move that's perhaps become even more difficult in the wake of Russia's nuclear threats, as well as China and North Korea's nuclear developments.
Other challenges. Turns out, concerns around AI aren't confined to the US. And G7 leaders agree that oversight is necessary. Not to mention the elephant in the room: the potential US debt default. Particularly since President Biden cut his trip short — forcing a sideline Quad meeting — so that he could return to Washington for continued negotiations.
theSkimm
World leaders came to the G7 summit with a packed agenda. And while some talks resulted in concrete action, many question marks remain. TBD what will still be on their to-do lists by next year's summit.
What's Happening
📰 In news...
The latest development in the debt ceiling drama? After a series of starts, stops, and pauses, President Biden is hoping to get negotiations back on track. Speaking of pauses, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona confirmed that federal student loan payments are expected to restart later this year. Meanwhile, the race for the GOP presidential nomination is likely to get even tougher this week, with Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) expected to officially announce they're put their hats in the ring. That comes after DeSantis signed a slate of legislation targeting the LGBTQIA+ community. In other city and state news: Lawmakers in both Texas and Nebraska OK'd restrictions on gender-affirming care for children. Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) vetoed three gun control bills. And San Francisco selected D'Arcy Drollinger as the nation's first-ever drag laureate.
🩺 In health...
More than 70% of Americans reportedly believe the nation's health care system is failing to meet their needs, according to a new survey. Not so surprising, given that another study found approximately 1 in 5 older adults were not taking their medications as prescribed because of concerns about cost. Meanwhile, new cases of chronic pain are outnumbering those of other conditions, like diabetes, high blood pressure, and depression (which is reaching record levels in adults). In nutrition news, there's more evidence that artificial sweeteners may not be so, well, sweet. While eating processed meat may be a mis-steak.
🏇 In sports...
While National Treasure is still giddy from winning the 2023 Preakness Stakes, Brooks Koepka, Viktor Hovland, and more golfers are teeing up for the final round of the PGA championship. Meanwhile, as pickleball may be headed to your local mall, padel is causing a whole new racket. Speaking of causing a racket, Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios announced he'll be skipping this year's French Open (mark your cal: it starts May 28) due to an injury. Same with Rafael Nadal, who also said that next year will probably be the final year of his tennis career. In soccer news, San Diego will be home to Major League Soccer's 30th team, scoring a major goal. While FIFA, on the other hand, is receiving a red card from soccer fans after revealing the 2026 World Cup logo.
Bookmark'd
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Sunday Scaries, Who?
Here's one tip for a better start to your week.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month — so there's no better time to give meditation a try. That's because meditation has been shown to help manage anxiety and depression, and improve sleep quality. Now, if you're convinced that you can't get still because you can't, well, sit still, take a deep breath and relax. We've got some ideas...
Get focused. If closing your eyes leaves you feeling more sleepy than serene, good news: You can keep them open. Instead, pick an object in your surroundings and focus your attention on that. If and when you feel your mind wandering, direct it back to your focal point. The more often you do this, the easier it'll become.
Put your records on. Just as you don't have to close your eyes, you don't have to sit in silence. Some find that it's helpful to listen to their favorite music — whether that's rock, classical, or something else. To try this, peace, err, piece together your own soothing playlist and get in a comfy position. Once you hit play, listen closely to each note and let your body feel the rhythm.
Pull out that puzzle. Turns out, a good jigsaw is more than just a way to pass the time. It can actually be its own meditative practice. That's because you may become so immersed in the task that you might detach from stressful thoughts. Any type of puzzle should do the trick.
Color your world. Similar to puzzles, coloring also puts peace at your fingertips. In addition to providing a distraction from negative thoughts, coloring's repetitive motion may help induce a relaxed state. To get started, just grab a coloring book and some colored pencils. (Pro tip: Have a pencil sharpener handy.)
Take it step by step. No, really. A walking meditation is a great alternative to the classic sit-and-breathe. Plus, you can do it just about anywhere: As you head out, take note of how it feels to pick up and drop each foot. Then, take a moment to notice your surroundings, focusing on your senses (think: what you smell, what you hear). As you add movement to your body — like swinging your arms — pay attention to the rhythm.
Save the Date
Like ours, your work and personal calendars are probably hectic. So here are some events you should know about...
Disney's live-action version of "The Little Mermaid" is in theaters — and part of your world.
PS: Want more events like this on your cal? theSkimm App gives you a heads-up on when everything from holidays to sports games to awards shows are going down. Download it here.
News Quiz
Stumped by our news quiz yesterday? Here's the answer.
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